Net Zero Carbon Audit

The UK Government has set a target to reduce carbon emissions by 80% before 2050, measuring against a 1990 baseline, through the Climate Change Act 2008. Net-zero emissions imply reaching an equilibrium between greenhouse gas emissions emitted and the greenhouse gas emissions taken out of the atmosphere.

Developing a Road Map: To help the UK government reach its target, organisations are required to reduce their carbon footprint. It is recommended that organisations develop a road map to understand what steps need to be taken to reach net-zero carbon emissions.

As part of the road map, it is advised that organisations measure both Scope 1 and 2 emissions as well as Scope 3 to allow organisations to focus on not only emissions they have direct control over, but also emissions which occur because of the organisation’s activities. The three Scopes are defined below:

Scope 1

Direct Emission

Activities owned or controlled by your organisation that release emissions straight into the atmosphere. They are direct emissions. Examples of scope 1 emissions include emissions from combustion in owned or controlled boilers, furnaces, vehicles, and emissions from refrigerant (F gases) in owned or controlled equipment.

Scope 2

Energy Indirect

 Emissions being released into the atmosphere associated with your consumption of purchased electricity, heat, steam, and cooling. These are indirect emissions that are a consequence of an organisation’s activities, but which occur at sources they do not own or control.

Scope 3

Other Indirect

Emissions that are a consequence of business activities which occur at sources which an organisation does not own or control and which are not classed as scope 2 emissions. Examples of scope 3 emissions are business travel by means not owned or controlled by your organisation, waste disposal, or purchased materials or fuels.